Santa Cruz
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Santa Cruz
Situated on the central coast, Santa Cruz, the birthplace of mainland surfing and known as California’s favourite beach town. From old growth redwood forests, to a 100+ yr old seaside amusement park overlooking the Pacific Ocean, Santa Cruz County offers the quintessential beach vacation. Boutique wineries are set amid a rural landscape where winemakers share their love of the craft.
Wildlife viewing is abundant, with birding virtually year round. Monarch butterflies and Gray whales also call this serene setting home during wintertime. Located 70 miles south of San Francisco and 345 miles north of Los Angeles, many choose to take scenic Highway 1 along the California coastline to Santa Cruz.
Suggested Hotels
Holiday Inn & Suites Santa CruzModerateFrom £115 per room per night
Around the corner from Grant Park, this hotel is also 2 miles from the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and 6.3 miles from Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park.
The standard rooms come with desks, free WiFi and flat-screen TVs with premium cable channels. There are also coffeemakers and daily newspapers, while kids 19 and under stay free with an adult. Suites add separate living spaces with pull-out sofas, plus minifridges and microwaves.
Amenities include a free breakfast bar and a heated outdoor pool, a 24/7 business centre and fitness facilities.
Beach Street Inn & SuitesModerateFrom £140 per room per night
A minute's walk from both Cowell Beach and Main Beach, this colourful, casual hotel is an 5-minute walk from the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and the Santa Cruz Wharf.
The bright, airy rooms feature hardwood floors, minifridges and microwaves, plus iPod docks, flat-screen TVs and free Wi-Fi. Most rooms have shared balconies with ocean views. Suites add full kitchens and pull-out sofas. Room service is available.
Parking and hot drinks are complimentary. There's a casual cafe, an outdoor heated pool and a picnic area.
Dream Inn Santa CruzFirst ClassFrom £210 per room per night
Set on Cowell Beach, this trendy hotel with a retro vibe is a 7-minute walk from dining on the Santa Cruz Wharf and 11 minutes' walk from the thrill rides on the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.
Bright, modern rooms featuring balconies or patios include flat-screen TVs, minifridges, free Wi-Fi and iPod docks, along with Keurig coffeemakers. Most have ocean views. Suites add separate living rooms with sofabeds. Room service is available.
There's a stylish seafood restaurant with ocean views, and a casual lounge with a bar. Other amenities include a beachfront outdoor pool, a deck with sunloungers, and a hot tub, plus event space for up to 250 guests.
Seascape Beach Resort Santa CruzFirst ClassFrom £230 per room per night
Overlooking Monterey Bay, this all-suite hotel with a private beach is 12 miles from the Santa Cruz Wharf.
Relaxed studios with kitchenettes offer flat-screen TVs, fireplaces and balconies (many with ocean views). Suites add separate living spaces or whirlpool tubs, and 2-bedroom villas are also available. In-suite spa treatments are offered (fee). A daily resort fee includes Wi-Fi.
A casual restaurant offers California cuisine and ocean views. There are 3 outdoor pools, hot tubs and tennis courts. Amenities also include a golf course and a fitness centre, access to which is covered by a resort fee. Loaner bikes and boogie boards are available.
